M^"^^^ 



g^^fl. ^ ^^^^^s«l,^'^^'%.^#>^'^^^'«'"^9 



I UBRAE1J)F CONGRESS. J 

i w 

tUNITEDlSTATES OF AMERTC,\.$ 



THE 



SHEPHERD BOY OF MINNESOTA: 



A NARRATIVE OF THE LIFE OF GEORGE 
MELYIN KELSET. 



By rev. NOAII LATHROR 



"Of such is the kingdom of heaven." 



or 



tk Moxh 



PUBLISHED BY CARLTON & PORTER, 

SUNDAY-SCHOOL UNION, -itK) MULBERBY-STKBBT. 

■■■■--'«' _ 



.K35L3 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1866, by 
CARLTON & PORTER, 

5n the Clerk's OflBce of the District Court of the United States for 
the Southern District of New York. 



r\ 



5 CONTENTS. 



Chapter Pagb 

I. Birth *7 

II. Conversion 13 

III. Melvin in Day-school - 19 

lY. Bringing others into Sunday-school 24 

Y. Diligent in Business HO 

YI. Filial Love 38 

YII. Patriotism 46 

YIII. Melvin's Happy Death 53 



SHEPHERD BOY OF MINNESOTA. 



' ♦•» 



CHAPTER I. 

BIRTH. 

GEORaE Melvin was the son of 
George and Lydia Kelsey. He was 
born in Crawford county, in^the state 
of Pennsylvania, on the twentieth day 
of December, in the year 1854. 

When he was between two and 
three years of age his parents moved 
to the far north-west, and settled in 
the teriitory of Minnesota. At that 
time there were few white people in 
that new and w^ild country. If you 
had lived where Melvin did, you 



b SHEPHERD BOY OF MIISTNESOTA. 

might have seen the wild Indians of 
the forest roaming over the country 
almost daily. You might also have 
seen the deer and other wild animals 
near the house quite often. 

Perhaps yon say to yourself, you 
think it would be hard for a little boy 
to be happy in so wild a place as that, 
and you do not see how he could do 
any good or learn any good there. 
Of course there were but few schools, 
Sunday-schools, or religious meetings 
for a little boy to attend in so new a 
country ; but Melvin had God's best 
gift, a pious Christian mother. This 
good woman taught him to pray, and 
to read the word of God, and tried to 
lead him in early life to Jesus Christ 
the blessed Saviour. 

When Melvin was about four years 
old there was a Sunday school held 



SHEPHERD BOY OF MINNESOTA. 9 

in the village of Anoka, a few miles 
away from where he lived. To this 
school he was sent by his parents, as 
often as he could go, for about a year ; 
after which they moved into the vil- 
lage, and he went every Sunday. He 
soon learned to love the Sunday- 
school very much indeed, and showed 
a great desire to learn all the lessons 
that were given him. He was not 
like some boys I have known, who 
learn only the words of their lessons, 
and do not try to find out the mean- 
ing of them. He always tried hard 
to learn all about his lessons. He 
was also a very pleasant child, having 
a smile of kindness for all who met 
him. He was very regular in going 
to school. 

Mrs. S., a pious lady who was his 
teacher in this Sunday-school when 



10 SHEPHERD BOY OF MINNESOTA. 

he was about six years of age, and 
whom he greatly loved, says the fol- 
lowing of him : 

^' Little Melvin was a child whom 
it was always pleasant to meet in 
Sabbath-school. He was never ab- 
sent from his class for any cause ex- 
cept sickness. He almost always had 
a perfect lesson, and seemed eager to 
learn all that his teacher could tell 
him about it. I looked upon him as 
a child of much promise, and hoped, 
that he would grow up to be a useful 
Christian man. Alas for human 
hopes ! his mission on earth was done 
while he was yet a child. The Lord 
had need of him, and in an hour when 
we thought not, he sent his angel to 
conduct his bright young spirit to his 
eternal home. Parents and sisters 
deeply mourn his loss. The Sabbath- 



SHEPHERD BOY OP MINKESOTA. 11 

school misses one of its loveliest 
members ; but we trust Melvin re- 
joices evermore, and will welcome at 
heaven's gate all of us who shall faith- 
fully follow in the footsteps of our 
blessed Saviour." 

Here is the first song that little 
Melvin learned to sing. I wish you 
would learn it by heart, and think 
of it as you read the rest of this 
book. 

" I want to be an angel, 

And with the angels stand ; 
A crown upon my forehead, 

A harp within my hand. 
There, right before my Saviour, 

So glorious and so bright, 
I'd wake the sweetest music, 

And praise him day and night. 

" I never should be weary, 

Nor ever shed a tear ; 
Nor ever know a sorrow. 

Nor ever feel a fear. , 



12 SHEPHERD BOY OF MINNESOTA. 

But blessed, pure, and holy, 
I'd dwell in Jesus' sight, 

And with ten thousand thousands 
Praise him both day and night. 

" I know I'm weak and sinfdl, 

But Jesus will forgive ; 
For many little children 

Have gone to heaven to live. 
Dear Saviour, when I languish, 

And lay me down to die, 
O send a shining angel 

To bear me to the sky. 

" ! there I'll be an angel, 

And with the angels stand, 
A crown upon my forehead, 

A harp within my hand. 
And there before my Saviour, 

So glorious and so bright, 
I'll join the heavenly music, 

Ajad praise him day and night." 



SHEPHEKD BOY OF MIKlSrESOTA. 13 



CHAPTER 11. 

C0NVEESI015T. 

It is a sad, sad thing to be sick. But 
to be very sick, and feel that we are 
sinners against God, and not ready to 
die, is dreadful indeed. No one has 
so good reason to be quiet and happy 
in sickness as the true Christian. 

When Melvin was about six years 
of age he was taken sick with the scar- 
let fever. He became so sick that his 
friends were afraid that he never 
would get well again. At this time 
he was very much afraid of death, 
for, though he was a Sunday-school 
scholar, and a kind and gentle little 
boy, he did not feel that he was a 
Christian. He said that he did not 



14 SHEPHEED BOY OF MUSTNESOTA. 

think the Lord would take him to 
heaven if he should die then. He 
began to pray to God for the forgive- 
ness of his sins and a clean heart, and 
he prayed much. 

Though the mercy of God and the 
kind care of his friends, he after a 
while got quite well again ; but he 
did not then, like some I have known, 
cease to pray. He kept on praying, 
and was often in great distress, be- 
cause he did not feel that his prayers 
were heard, and that he was made a 
Christian. During this time his 
mother was his chief adviser, though 
he often talked with his Sunday- 
school teacher. He was very anxious 
to be a Christian. Like one we read 
of in the Bible, he seemed to be say- 
ing, " O that I knew where I might 
find " the Lord ! that "J might come 



SHEPHERD BOY OF MINNESOTA. 15 

even to his seat ! I would order my 
cause before him, and fill my mouth 
with arguments." 

One day he came to his mother 
and said, " Ma, I do not know why 
it is that God does not answer my 
prayers. I have prayed that he 
would forgive my sins and give me a 
clean heart, but I feel no change." 
His mother told him that nothing 
he could do would make him any 
better; for that God saves us only 
for the sake of Jesus Christ, who died 
to save sinners." 8he told him, also, 
that he " must be willing to give up 
all things for Christ, and believe 
that God would cleanse his heart, 
and make him a Christian for Jesus's 
sake." 

He still prayed on, striving to 
enter in at the strait gate, and did 



16 SHEPHERD BOY OF MIISTNESOTA. 

all his duties, and in a short time 
after this was made happy in a 
Saviour's love. He told his mother 
that ''he knew now that God had 
forgiven his sins for Christ's sake, 
for he loved to pray, and felt that 
God blessed him, and that it was 
easy now to do right, and that he 
was very happy." After this he 
loved to go to church, and to the 
class meetings, where he heard good 
people talk together of the love and 
mercy of God. 

It was some two years after his 
sickness that he felt sure that God 
heard his prayer and made him a 
Christian. But perhaps you ask if 
every one must be so long in seeking 
before the pearl of great price is 
found. I answer, No, my dear child. 
God is willing just now to hear your 



SHEPHERD BOY OF MINl^ESOTA. l7 

prayer and make you his child. If 
you are fully determined to serve 
him all your days, and now put your 
trust in God's dear Son alone for 
salvation, he will now bless you 
for Jesus's sake. 

Here is one of Melvin's favorite 
hymns after he became a Christian. 

" Who was in a manger laid ? 

Jesus, blessed Jesus. 
WTio for money was betrayed ? 

Jesus, blessed Jesus. 
Who up Calvary was led ? 

WTio for us his life-blood shed ? 
Jesus Christ, creation's head, 

Jesus, blessed Jesus. 

" Who can hear us when we call ? 

Jesus, blessed Jesus. 
Who's the dearest friend of all ? 

Jesus, blessed Jesus. 
Who alone can do us good 

When we're tossed on Jordan's flood ? 
Jesus Christ, our risen Lord, 

»Tesus, blessed Jesus. 
2 



18 SHEPHERD BOY OF MINISTESOTA. 

" Who can rob the grave of gloom ? 

Jesus, blessed Jesus. 
Who can raise us from the tomb ? 

Jesus, blessed Jesus. 
When before the Judge we wait, 

Who will open heaven's gate ? 
Jesus Christ our Advocate ; 

Jesus, blessed Jesus. 

" Who will give the sweetest rest ? 

Jesus, blessed Jesus. 
Who in heaven shall we love best ? 

Jesus, blessed Jesus. 
At his feet our crowns we'll fling, 

While with rapturous songs we sing, 
Jesus Christ our Saviour King, 

Jesus, blessed Jesus." 



SHEPHEED BOY OF MIKlSrESOTA. 19 



CHAPTER HI. 

MELVIN IN DAY-SCHOOL. 

Not only in Sunday-school did Melvin 
show a desire to learn, but in the day- 
school also. It would be hard to 
find a better student than he was. 
Eager to master all those studies that 
would make him wise, and prepare 
him for the business of life, he ap- 
plied himself closely. On the play- 
ground he was as active and cheerful 
as any boy you would find. Hard 
study made him relish play. Melvin 
was agreeable in his play, as he also 
was to his teachers, showing them 
that respect and obedience that is due 
them. 

Perhaps I could not do better than 



20 SHEPHERD BOY OF MINNESOTA. 

to give you a copy of a letter written 
by Mrs. B., who was his teacher when 
he was eight years of age. The letter 
was written to Melvin's mother after 
his death. 

She says, " Tears of sorrow fell on 
your letter as I read of Melvin's 
death, for I had loved him, and had 
marked out for him a career of honor 
and usefulness. He was a boy of no 
ordinary ability. 

" Thoughtful and studious beyond 
his years, he never complained of a 
difficult task, and was always eager 
to master every lesson given him. 
He was always at school in good 
time, with his lessons well learned. 
I felt that he was destined to fill 
some eminent position in life. He 
was gentle and kind, always ready to 
grant a favor to his schoolmates; he 



SHEPHERD BOY OF MINNESOTA. 21 

never sought to revenge an injury. 
He won the love of all who knew 
him;' 

Melvin was a great lover of read- 
ing ; he would read all the good 
books and papers he could get. 
When he came into the house, if he 
had even five or ten minutes to spare, 
he had some good book or paper in 
his hand. He was employed during 
one summer by a man in the village 
to watch over his sheep. I have 
seen him sometimes, when the sheep 
were feeding near a small church at 
the edge of the village, sitting on 
the step of the church reading a 
good book. 

He was a constant reader of the 
Sunday-School Advocate and the 
library books, and later in life of 
the Northwestern Christian Advo- 



22 SHEPHERD BOY OF MH^NESOTA. 

cate, a religious paper published at 
Chicago, Illinois, and also of the Mis- 
sionary Advocate, as well as of some 
other papers. He used sometimes 
to visit me, to read in my library. 

One day, in company with some 
of his playmates, Melvin w^as skat- 
ing on the mill-pond in the village. 
While they were at play, one of the 
little boys was heard to swear. This 
pained Melvin very much, and he 
kindly reproved him, telling him 
'Hhat he ought not to do so, and 
that if he was about to die and 
go before God, he would not like 
to swear so." I am sorry to say 
that the little boy was so wicked 
that he did not seem afraid to swear. 
His mother had not taught him to 
fear the Lord, and to honor his 
name. I hope you will remember 



SHEPHEED BOY OF MHTIS-ESOTA. 23 

the words of the Lord Jesus, how 
that he says, " Swear not at all." 
Of course the children who read this 
Sunday-school book, and have such 
kind teachers in the Sunday-school, 
wHll never* swear ! I hope you will 
do as Melvin did. If any of your 
playmates should so far forget God's 
word as to swear, kindly reprove 
them, and if they will not stop the 
sinful practice, you must not play 
with them, lest you learn their evil 
ways, and at last come to a bad end. 

"Why should I join with those in play- 
In whom I've no delight ; 

Who curse and swear, but never pray ; 
Who call ill names and fight. 

" Away from fools I'll turn mine eyes, 

Nor with the scoffers go ; 
I would be walking with the wise, 

That wiser I may grow." 



24 SHEPHEED BOY OF MIT^^KESOTA. 



CHAPTER IV. 

BEIlSTGINa OTHERS INTO SUNDAY- 
SCHOOL. 

After his conversion his love for 
the Sunday-school was greater than 
ever, and he tried to persuade all the 
children he knew, who did not go to 
Sunday-school, to go with him. In 
this he was quite successful, and 
brought in many new scholars, that 
they might learn about Jesus and the 
way to heaven. This is always the 
way with those, whether old or young, 
who love our Lord Jesus Christ ; 
they are very happy themselves, and 
wish all others to be as happy as 
they are. 

Melvin was still very diligent in 
getting his lessons and storing his 



SHEPHERD BOY OF MmiSTESOTA. 25 

mind with such things as would help 
him to live a Christian life. Mrs. W., 
a pious Christian lady, was his 
teacher when he was about nine 
years of age. This lady removed to 
the East when he was about ten 
years of age. After Melvin died I 
wrote to her, telling her of his death, 
and in answer she sent me the follow- 
ing letter. You may see by it how 
much she loved him, and how dili- 
gent and faithful he was. 

"So death has taken one of my 
boys — one of the most promising. I 
am pained, I am sad ; yet I thank 
God that he had learned to love 
him. Melvin was a bright, active 
boy, and bade fair to make a useful 
man. I cannot realize yet that he is 
gone. He was constant and punc- 
tual at Sabbath-school ; nothing but 



26 SHEPHERD BOY OF MINJSTESOTA. 

sickness ever kepfc him away; and 
he was attentive while there. Any 
questions proposed to the class were 
quickly responded to by him, and he 
often came to me with questions on 
some points he did not understand. 
I think I can safely say that he 
never recited a set of words that to 
him meant nothing. He was honor- 
able in all his actions, so far as they 
came under my observation. He 
was always kind and respectful. He 
came to me with his photograph a 
day or two before I left Anoka. 
The picture gratified me very much 
at the time^ and I prize it highly 
now. How such trifling testimonials 
help to lighten and cheer our dark 
hours ! It is pleasant to feel that 
those for whom you have felt a deep 
interest, and for whom you have 



II 

[ SHEPHERD BOY OF MIIS^NESOTA. 27 



labored and prayed, love and re- 
spect you. It may be a selfish feel- 
ing, but it is cheering. Do you not 
find it so, Bro. L. ? " 

Melvin also greatly loved to hear 
the gospel preached. The good 
man who preached in the school- 
house where he went to meeting 
(for there was no beautiful church 
there at that time) did not forget to 
preach to the children. When there 
was a minister there who did not preach 
much to the children it was a great 
trial to him. About the time of the 
conference, when it was expected that 
a new preacher would be sent to the 
place, he was very anxious that one 
should be sent who would preach to 
the children. While I knew Melvin, 
which was during the two last years 
of his life, he was very orderly and 



28 SHEPHERD BOY OF MINNESOTA. 

attentive in the house of worship. 
Indeed, I have seen but few older 
persons who seemed to enjoy hear- 
ing the word of God preached more 
than he did. Often during the last 
year of his life I have seen him sit- 
ting in the house of worship giving 
most careful attention to the preach- 
ing. He would often go home to 
his mother, who was not able to go 
to church much at that time, and 
tell her all about the sermon, and 
say, "I wish you could have been 
there, ma, it was so good, and I en- 
joyed it so much." He was at this 
time between ten and eleven years 
of age, yet he understood and en- 
joyed most of the preaching he 
heard, and treasured it up in his 
heart. 



SHEPHERD BOY OF MUSTISTESOTA. 29 



HYMIST. 

" To thy temple I repair ; 
Lord, I love to worship there. 
Heavenly Father, give me grace, 
In thy courts to seek thy face. 

" While thy servant shall proclaim 
Peace and pardon in thy name. 
Through his voice, by faith may! 
Hear thee speaking from the sky. 

" From thy house when I return, 
May my heart within me burn ; 
And at evening let me say, 
I have walked with God to-day." 



30 SHEPHEED BOY OF MINNESOTA. 



CHAPTER V. 

DILIGENT IN BUSINESS. 

No one should idle away time. One 
of the great good men we read of 
in the Bible says, that if any would 
not work, neither should he eat. 
How would you like such a rule as 
that ? I am afraid a good many 
people would go hungry a great deal 
of the time. Here is one of the 
proverbs of the wise man : " He be- 
cometh poor that dealeth with a 
slack hand : but the hand of the dili- 
gent maketh rich." I hope you will 
learn this proverb and always be 
diligent. 

Melvin was a very industrious boy, 
almost always doing some useful 



SHEPHERD BOY OF MIl^^N^ESOTA. 31 

work. I told you in another chapter 
that he was hired by a man in the 
village to tend his sheep ; he was a 
good shepherd boy, watchful and 
kind to the sheep, and faithful to his 
employer. 

He seemed to be asking himself, as 
many of you often do, How can I be 
useful ? I will tell you of some other 
of his ways of being useful. Each 
year he would plant a little garden 
for himself. His father gave him the 
ground, and all that grew upon it was 
to be his own. He took great care 
to keep down the weeds and loosen 
the ground, so that what he planted 
would grow well. But perhaps some 
little boy is saying to himself as he 
reads this story, '^ What does a little 
boy like me want with a garden ? My 
pa raises all that I need to eat.'- 



32 SHEPHEED BOY OF MINISTESOTA. 

I will tell you what Melvin did 
with what grew in his garden. He 
carried it to market and sold it, and 
gave most of the money for the sup- 
port of Sunday-schools, and to help 
send missionaries to preach the gos- 
pel to the poor heathen. His last gar- 
den had in it some watermelons, pop- 
corn, tomatoes, onions, and some other 
things. He did not live to see these 
things get ripe, but he gave directions 
that they should be sold, and the 
money given for the benefit of Sunday- 
schools and missions. When the 
things were gathered and sold it was 
found that they brought five dollars 
in money. This five dollars has been 
sent to Dr. Wise, the editor of the 
Sunday-school Advocate, to aid in 
establishing a Mission Sunday-school 
library in some destitute place. 



SHEPHEED BOY OF MIT^l^ESOTA. 33 

Melvin had also five fine young 
sheep that he had bought with his 
own money. So you see he was the 
owner as well as the keeper of sheep. 
The interest that these sheep will 
bring is also to be used for the cause 
of Sunday-schools and missions. He 
was careful of his money, and did 
not spend it for foolish things, but 
was always ready to use it to do 
good. 

Like all true Christians, he felt that 
he ought to " work while it is day ; " 
and also, that he ought to deny him- 
self of useless things, that he might 
have money to do good with. At 
one of the monthly concerts of the 
Sunday-school and Missionary Society 
of the Anoka Sunday-school, we 
sung the hymn that has this verse 

in it: 

8 



34 SHEPHERD BOY OF MINNESOTA. 

" The mites have the blessing, 

The millions have naught ; 
Our faith thus expressing, 

Our gifts we have brought. 
Had we followed love's promptings, 

It might have been such 
As to forfeit the promise, 

By giving too much." 

A day or two after this he sent 
me word that he did not like the 
song. 

When I wished to know the reason 
he said it did not seem to him to be 
true. 

He thought that if we have only 
mites to give, then only mites are re- 
quired of us ; but if we have millions, 
we ought to bring these as an offer- 
ing to Jesus. In his own words, " If 
any one has a good deal, he ought to 
give a good deal." 

And this, my dear children, is the 
true doctrine. The Bible says, "To 



SHEPHEED BOY OF MINI^ESOTA. 35 

whom much is given, of him shall 
much be required." 

Kindness to the poor is one of the 
best proofs of a good heart. During 
the late terrible war, many of the 
poor people who had been slaves in 
the southern states of our country- 
ran away from their masters. One 
of these found her way to Anoka. 
She was called Aunt Betty. She had 
a little boy about five years old and 
a baby. The baby died soon after 
she came to the place, and she was 
left with none but her little Willie. 
She was then very poor, and lived in 
a little old house. When thanksgiv- 
ing day came, and the people of the 
village were going to hold meetings 
and enjoy good dinners, as most of 
you do on thanksgiving day, Melvin 
thought of Aunt Betty and Willie, 



36 SHEPHEED BOY OF MIN^NESOTA. 

and wished to do something to make 
them happy. He asked his mother 
to let him carry them a chicken for 
a thanksgiving dinner. His mother 
gladly consented, for she. was always 
pleased to see him trying to do good. 
With a happy heart and nimble 
feet he skipped over the ground until 
he reached the place where they lived, 
and made them the present in a kind 
and polite manner. Aunt Betty and 
"Willie were glad indeed, and thanked 
him heartily. I dare say he was a 
happier boy that day because of 
the good deed he had done, than he 
was in eating his own good thanks- 
giving dinner. The Bible tells us, 
" It is more blessed to give than to 
receive." It also says, ''He that 
giveth to the poor lendeth to the 
Lord, and he will repay him again." 



SHEPHERD BOY OF MINNESOTA. 37 



HYMN. 

" How dotli the little busy bee, 
Improve eacb shining hour, 

And gather honey all the day, 
From every opening flower. 

" How skillfully she builds her nest, 
How neat she spreads her wax ; 

She labors hard to store it well 
With the sweet food she makes. 

" In works of kindness or of skill, 

We must be busy too ; 
For Satan finds some mischief still 

For idle hands to do. 

" With books or work or healthful play 

Let our first years be past. 
That we may give for every day 

Some good account at last." 



38 SHEPHERD BOY OF MINJSTESOTA. 



CHAPTER VI. 



FILIAL LOVE. 



Melvin was loving and kind to all 
Ms friends. His father shared very 
largely in his affections, and he was 
careful to try and please him by 
strict obedience. His sisters rejoiced 
in the love of a most affectionate 
brother, who tried to make them 
happy by kind deeds, and to set 
them a good example. His baby 
brother was very fond of him, because 
he always watched over him so 
kindly, and took care of him so ten- 
derly. But I think he seemed more 
perfectly devoted to his mother than 
to any one else. I always have great 
love for a boy who is loving, kind, 



SHEPHEED BOY OF MINNESOTA. 39 

and obedient to his mother, and I 
expect that he will be a good and 
useful man if he lives to grow up. 
But if a boy is rude and unkind to 
his mother, I feel almost sure that he 
will grow up to be a bad man, and 
perhaps come to some bad end. 

Melvin made a confidant of his 
mother : he would talk freely to her 
on all matters that interested him, es- 
pecially when he was in doubt about 
right and wrong, and also about the 
religion of the blessed Jesus. 

This was the true course. There is 
no other earthly friend who can feel 
so much for us, and instruct us so 
well, as a mother. Think how much 
your mother loves you, and how hard 
she works to clothe you and teach 
you ! When you was a little infant 
in the cradle, and could not take 



40 SHEPHEED BOY OF MUSTlSrESOTA. 

care of yourself, who was it that 
watched over you so tenderly? 
When you was sick, and slept so lit- 
tle through long and weary nights, 
who was it that gave up her own 
sleep to sit beside your bed ? Whose 
soft hand was it that soothed your 
aching head ? I well know whose it 
was, for I too have a mother. Take 
notice of your own mother for a few 
days; see how many cares she has, 
and how watchful she is over you 
and your little brothers and sisters. 
If you will do this I think you will 
feel like trying to do what you can 
to help her. 

Melvin tried to do what he could 
to help his mother, and to lighten 
her cares. His father told me, " His 
quick eye would often see what was 
needed to be done, and his willing 



SHEPHERD BOY OF MINISTESOTA. 41 

hand would perform it, long before 
his mother would think of calling 
upon him for help." How much 
better such a course is than that of 
some boys I have seen, who, in- 
stead of doing so, would even com- 
plain, or cry, when their mothers 
would call upon them for help in 
some small matter. Shame ! shame 
on the boy who is unkind and rude 
to his mother ! I hope all such boys 
will repent, and pray for forgiveness, 
and try to do better after this. I 
wish all my little readers would 
commit to memory this proverb of 
the wise man: '^My son, hear the 
instruction of thy father, and for- 
sake not the law of thy mother: 
for they shall be an ornament of 
grace unto thy head, and chains 
.about thy neck." 



42 SHEPHERD BOY OF MINNESOTA. 

Not far from the village of Anoka 
there is a beautiful lake. Around 
the winding shore there are beauti- 
ful shade trees, and sweet smelling 
flowers, and blue-berries growing. 
Out in the lake the water-lily may 
be seen, the large flat leaves lie upon 
the surface, and the beautiful flowers 
hold their white heads an inch or two 
out of the water. In the clear cool 
waters the fish sport and play, and 
in the branches of the shade trees 
the birds build their nests, and 
sing their songs. It is a splendid 
place at which to spend a few pleas- 
ant hours. One day several of Mel- 
vin's young friends were going to this 
lake on a fishing excursion, and he 
wished to go with them. His parents 
told him they would be glad to have 
him go and have a pleasant time, and 



SHEPHERD BOY OF MINNESOTA. 43 

catch some fish for the family to eat if 
he could, but they did not wish him to 
go out on the lake in a boat, even if 
the other boys should. They were 
fearful some harm might befall him. 
He told them he would do as they 
wished. 

When the company reached the 
lake the other boys found a small 
boat, and were about to go out on the 
smooth waters, when one of them 
called out, "Come, Melvin, get in 
and we will row out to deep water, 
where there is good fishing." 

"No," said he, "you know my pa 
and ma told me they did not wish me 
to go out on the lake in the boat." 

"Well, but how will they know 
it ; besides, they wont care if you 
don't get hurt, and there aint a bit 
of danger." 



44 SHEPHERD BOY OF MINIS'ESOTA. 

"But I promised them I would 
not go, and I cannot afford to break 
my promise." 

'^Well, I advise you to go, for 
you can't catch any fish if you stay 
on shore." 

'' Then I must do without them." 

Brave, true hearted boy ! you can 
do without them better than you can 
afford to do wrong. 

There did not, to be sure, seem 
to be any danger on the beautiful 
smooth lake. The little boy who 
rowed the boat was a skillful hand 
to row ; he could cross the rapid 
current of the great Mississippi river 
in a boat by himself 

But the little shepherd boy did 
not ask the question, Is there danger? 
but. Is it right 'i He would not yield 
to the temptation to disobey his 



SHEPHERD BOY OF MENTKESOTA. 45 

parents, even if he lost the pleasure 
of catching the fish. But he did not 
even lose this pleasure, for in the 
evening he came home with a clear 
conscience, and as nice a string of fish 
as any boy in the company. He had 
more than the family needed to eat, 
and went out and sold enough to 
bring him twenty-five cents in cash, 
which he put into the collection at 
the very next monthly concert of the 
Sunday-school and Missionary Society. 



46 SHEPHERD BOY OP MINNESOTA. 



CHAPTER VII. 

PATRIOTISM. 

Melvin was a patriotic boy. I mean 
by this, one who loves our country; 
one who, in time of the great war 
against rebellion and slavery, was 
devoted to the welfare of our union 
soldiers. Many of my young readers 
perhaps know something of the hard- 
ships of that terrible war, that lasted 
for four long and dreary years. Per- 
haps you had a father, or brother, or 
some near friend, who was a soldier 
in the Union army. You have heard 
them tell of the hardships the soldiers 
had to endure. You know, too, that 
those at home enjoyed a great many 
comforts that the soldiers could not 



SHEPHERD BOY OF MIKKESOTA. 47 

have. It may be that you think of a 
grave somewhere in the sunny South 
that holds the manly body of one 
you loved most dearly. You have 
heard how some of our soldiers were 
placed in prisons, and some of them 
starved, by the wicked men who were 
fighting against our government. 
During this war Christian men and 
women held fairs, and collected money 
and other needful things for the sol- 
diers, and the women and girls knit 
socks and gloves, and made other 
clothing for them. These things 
were carried to the soldiers by agents 
of the Sanitary and Christian Com- 
missions, two societies that were kept 
up for the purpose of helping the 
sick and wounded soldiers. In this 
great and noble work Melvin took a 
deep interest, and as he read much, 



48 SHEPHEED BOY OF MESTKESOTA. 

he knew quite well what was going 
on in the army, and what the people 
were doing for the soldiers. One 
day he was reading in the North- 
western Christian Advocate, where 
he found a notice calling upon boys 
and girls to raise subscribers for the 
picture of the American Eagle. This 
eagle was a noble bird. He was 
caught when young by an Indian in 
Wisconsin and given to a farmer. 
A man in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, 
bought him, and gave him to a com- 
pany of soldiers in a Wisconsin regi- 
ment. The captain named him Abe, 
and it is said he knew his name. He 
was carried on a perch a little above 
the heads of the soldiers near the flag 
of the company. When the regiment 
would cheer, Abe would spread his 
wings and take a small flag in his 



SHEPHERD BOY OF MINNESOTA. 49 

mouth ; but he would not notice the 
cheering of any other regiment of 
soldiers. He was in all the battles 
with the regiment, equally exposed to 
danger with the other soldiers. 

At one of the battles the men 
were ordered to lie down, and the 
soldier bird also threw himself on 
the ground and stayed there till the 
men arose, and then he took his 
place again, and kept it during the 
rest of the battle. A rebel general 
once said to his men that he would 
rather take him than a brigade of 
soldiers. 

The notice in the Advocate stated 
that the writer of it was about to 
organize what he called the army 
of the American Eagle, and that 
every person who would buy a 
picture should be a private in the 



50 SHEPHERD BOY OF MINNESOTA. 

army, and that every boy or girl 
who would sell a certain number of 
pictures should be an officer. Any 
one who should sell one hundred 
was to be made a captain. The 
money raised was to be paid to the 
great Sanitary fair held in Chicago 
in June, 1865, for the benefit of 
sick and wounded soldiers. 

Melvin thought this a good way 
to be useful, and also a very pleasant 
one. So he took his paper and went 
from house to house in village and 
country around, read the story of 
the soldier-bird, and asked persons 
to buy, until he had more than one 
hundred sold, for which he received 
ten dollars. This he sent to the 
commanding officer at Chicago, to be 
paid over to the fair. In a few days 
he received his commission as captain. 



SHEPHERD BOY OF MINNESOTA. 51 

Here is a copy of the commis- 
sion: 

OFFICER'S COMMISSION. 

Head Quarters Army of the American Eagle, 
Chicago, April 18, 1865. 

This commission is to show that 
I, reposing special trust and con- 
fidence in the loyalty and patriot- 
ism of George M. Kelsey, have ap- 
pointed him captain in the Army of 
the American Eagle, to rank from 
April 18, 1865. 

Alfred L. Sewell, 

Officer in Command of tTie Army of the 
American Eagle, 

Mary E. Bragdon, A3^. Gen. 

You see, my little readers, that if a 
boy is wide awake, and has a mind 
to work and do good, he can find 
plenty of ways. You will not need 
to go far from home to find some 



52 SHEPHEEB BOr OF MINNESOTA. 

good work to do. Indeed, you per- 
haps may find it even at home. 

By little deeds of kindness, little 
words of love, you may make your 
home an Eden like the heaven above. 
Look around you, and pray the 
blessed Jesus to show you what you 
ought to do, and to help you to do 
it in the right spirit. He says to 
those who are not doing good, '^ Why 
stand ye here all the day idle ? " 

You can always find something or 
or other to do, if not for yourself, 
for a neighbor. 

" Do not, then, stand idly waiting 

For some greater worh to do; 
Fortune is a lazy goddess, 

She will never come to you. 
Go and toil in any viueyard ; 

Do not fear to do or dare ; 
If you want a field for labor 

You can find it anywhere." 



SHEPHEED BOY OF MINNESOTA, 53 



CHAPTEE yill. 

MELYIN'S HAPPY DEATH. 

It is a solemn thing to die, for 
after death we cannot change our 
character. Then he that is unjust 
shall be unjust still, and he that is 
filthy shall be filthy still, and he that 
is righteous shall be righteous still, 
and he that is holy shall be holy 
still. 

We all must die ; it may be very 
soon and very suddenly. You are 
in good health now, perhaps, your 
cheeks round and rosy, and you can 
run, and romp, and play throughout 
the whole long day, and hardly 
think of being tired. It seems to 
you that death is a long way off. 



54 SHEPHEED BOY OF MESriTESOTA, 

But how little do we know what 
even one day may bring to us. We 
may be well to-day, and feel that 
life will be long and happy, and 
even before to-morrow's sun rises we 
may die. I beg of you heed the 
words of the blessed Jesus, "Be ye 
also ready " to die. 

The story of Melvin's death, which 
I will now tell you, will show you 
that what I have just said is true. 
It was Thursday morning, a bright 
and beautiful day in the month of 
August in the year 1865, that Melvin 
went out of the door of his home 
with the rose-flush on his full round 
cheek, with heart light and happy, 
and his step firm and quick. He 
went to play with some of his com- 
panions, and to watch the birds from 
the garden. He seemed to be as 



SHEPHEED BOY OF MIJ^-JSTESOTA. 55 

well as ever; but before noon he 
felt a terrible pain in his head, and 
a weakness in his limbs, and he 
started for the house. His strength 
failed so fast that he had scarcely 
enough left to enable him to reach 
it. One of his little friends helped 
him along as kindly as he could. His 
mother met him at the door, helped 
him into the house, and laid him 
on his bed. The doctor was called 
in great haste, and did all that he 
could to save him, but nothing could 
check the terrible disease. It was 
now too plain that the little shepherd 
boy must die. 

And how do you think he felt ^t 
this time ? Was he afraid to die ? 
By no means. The Lord, who had 
made him a Christian in answer to 
hLs prayer some years before, and 



56 SHEPHERD BOY OF MIN^KESOTA. 

who had helped him to live aright 
and resist temptation, was with him 
to comfort and cheer him in this hour 
of sadness and gloom. Indeed, to him 
it was not an hour of sadness at all, 
but an hour of triumph and joy. He 
was not at all afraid of death, but 
felt that 

"Death is the gate to endless joy." 

He was sick only a few hours, not 
long enough to see the sun rise on 
the next morning. He lay upon his 
dying bed with a beautiful smile upon 
his fair young face, and looking up- 
ward, seemed to see heaven opened, 
and the shining angels that had come 
to carry him away from earth to his 
heavenly home. All at once he 
spoke, and said, " O how beautiful ! 
how beautiful ! " And then he placed 
his arms around his father's neck and 



SHEPHERD BOY OF MUSTNESOTA. 57 

gave him a parting kiss, saying at the 
same time, in a sweet tone of voice, 
" Good night, pa ; I am going home to 
die no more." He kissed all his 
friends and bade them farewell, and 
wished them to meet him in heaven. 

His father asked him if he thought 
he was dying ; to which he answered 
with great calmness that he thought 
he was. His lips moved in prayer to 
our heavenly Father for a short 
time, and then he seemed to think of 
his baby brother, and began to sing, 
" Brother, brother," as he used to in 
rocking the little fellow to sleep. In 
a few minutes he quietly fell asleep 
in Jesus, and was carried by angels to 
the paradise of God. 

Melvin was not quite eleven years 
of age, but his love of Sunday-school, 
his faithfulness in doing good, his 



58 SHEPHERI) BOY OF MHV^NESOTA. 

obedience to his parents, his kindness 
to his mother and his little brother 
and sisters, had won for him many 
warm and devoted friends. 

His missionary labors, by the bless- 
ing of God, may raise up some, per- 
haps, in heathen lands to call him 
blessed in the great day when all 
things shall be made known. The 
mission Sunday-school that the money 
his garden sold for will help to estab- 
lish in some poor place may be the 
cause of leading some little boys and 
girls to the blessed Jesus. Let us 
hope and pray that it may. 

I was not in the town when he 
died, nor at his funeral. But at the 
funeral the minister preached a ser- 
mon from Psalm xvii, 16 : "I shall 
be satisfied when I awake in thy 
likeness." 



8HEPHEED BOY OF MINISTESOTA. 59 

He said the true Christian is like 
God: that this likeness is in holi- 
ness, or purity of heart; and righte- 
ousness of life, or living a true Chris- 
tian: but that the likeness is not 
perfect here, but will be made so 
in the great eternity to which all are 
going. 

He then spoke of the great triumph 
that religion gives us over death, in 
that our bodies will be raised out of 
the grave, and be made like the 
glorious body of the blessed Saviour, 
who came out of the grave, and went 
to heaven with a body more beauti- 
ful than any we have ever seen, or 
even been able to think of: a body 
that shall never die. 

He then spoke of the perfect hap- 
piness all the good shall have, with 
the Saviour, in that blessed land 



60 SHEPHERD BOY OF MINNESOTA. 

above. Though we want mucli here, 
and are seldom satisfied with what 
we have, there we shall have all we 
want, and shall be fully satisfied, 
forever satisfied. 

In a little grove amid the vast 
prairies of the state of Minnesota, 
near the eastern bank of the great 
Mississippi river, at the village of 
Anoka, about twenty miles above 
the great falls of Saint Anthony, is 
a graveyard. In this graveyard 
you may find a little lot surrounded 
by a neat white paling; within it is 
a marble slab, set up by loving hands 
to mark the resting-place of the 
Minnesota shepherd boy. 

Near the top of this stone there, 
is cut in the marble a beautiful little 
lamb, the emblem of innocence, and 
under the lamb are the-se words : 



SHEPHERD BOY OF MINNESOTA. 61 

"GEokaE M., son of George and 
L. Kelsey, died a Christian, Aug. 
18, 1865, aged ten years and eight 
months." 

Under this stone, as the green 
grass grows and the wild flowers 
bloom over his grave, sleeps until 
the resurrection day all that was mor- 
tal of this young Christian and mis- 
sionary worker, "The Minnesota 
Shepherd Boy." 

But his bright young spirit sleeps 
not. No, no; but in the presence of 
the angels, before the throne of God, 
with the great Shepherd on high, he 
makes his home now. Let us imitate 
his good deeds, and " follow the foot- 
steps of Jesus, which lead to the man- 
sions above." Like him we may 
then say, "Farewell, world! 'I am 
going home to die no more.' " 



62 SHEPHERD BOY OF MINNESOTA. 

Here are some lines written by 
Melvin's father : 

One bright and lovely morning, 

When nature was serene, 
The birds were singing sweetly, 

The eai-th was robed in green, 

My boy, in health and beauty. 
The rose flush on his cheek, 

Went out with cheerful countenance 
His little Mends to greet. 

The sun had scarcely risen 
To the noontide of the day, 

Ere God had sent his angel 
To take my boy away. 

With pallid cheek and trembling limb, 
With faithful step and tread. 

He nerved his powers to reach his home, 
Crying, " My head ! my head ! " 

His mother met him at the door, 
The tears were on his cheek ; 

With falt'ring steps he crossed the floor 
His dying couch to seek. 

Human aid was quickly called, 
Yet this could not control ; 

The fell disease was conquering. 
His limbs were growing cold. 



SHEPHERD BOY OF MINNESOTA. 63 

Then, with his arms extended 

To me, he sweetly said, 
" How beautiful ! how beautiful 

Is the scene around my bed." 

O ! painful was the moment 

When he gave the parting kiss, 
And said, " Farewell, dear parents, 
I'm going home to bliss." . 

The shades of night were passing. 

The rays began to light, 
When our dear one ceased to breathe, 

And his spirit took its flight. 

On the prairie's wide domain 

A marble slab is found. 
To mark the final resting-place. 

Till Gabriel's trump shall sound. 



THE END. 



6n^ 



